Milwaukee, WI — USDA Zone 5b

Frost dates and growing season in Milwaukee

All of Milwaukee's mapped ZIP codes fall in the same hardiness band, Zone 5b.

These are 50%-probability averages modeled from Milwaukee's USDA hardiness zone and regional climate normals — not a single-station reading. In a typical year the last spring frost will have passed by May 1, but a colder-than-average year can run 1-2 weeks later. Plant tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) once both soil and night temperatures are consistently warm — a thermometer beats the calendar.

Growing season in Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin sits in USDA Zone 5b, with roughly 168 frost-free days between an average last spring frost around May 1 and a first fall frost around October 16. That is a standard temperate season — most common vegetables finish comfortably, and a single main planting plus one succession round works well. Milwaukee lies near 43.0°N; higher-latitude gardens get longer midsummer days but a tighter shoulder season at this zone. As a large metro, the built-up core typically runs up to half a zone warmer than outlying suburbs through the urban heat-island effect — sheltered city gardens often push tender crops a little earlier than the average suggests.

What grows in Milwaukee

Milwaukee falls in USDA Zone 5b, so the same hardiness constraints apply as the full Zone 5 guide. Vegetables, herbs, and fruit trees rated to Zone 5b (or hardier) will overwinter here in a typical year.

• Tomatoes (full range of varieties)
• Peppers
• Eggplant
• Squash, melons, cucumbers
• Beans (bush + pole)
• Sweet corn
• Apples, pears, plums
• Cherries (sweet + sour)
• Blueberries, raspberries
• Garlic

What to plant in Milwaukee this week

Milwaukee is in high summer — most spring plantings are in. Keep an eye on watering and start planning your fall crop. Cool-season seedlings (broccoli, cabbage, lettuce) can be started indoors for a fall transplant.

• When to plant tomatoes in zone 5
• When to plant peppers in zone 5
• When to plant bush beans in zone 5
• When to plant cucumbers in zone 5
• When to plant basil in zone 5

Full planting calendar for Milwaukee

Crop-by-crop sowing, transplant, and harvest dates calibrated to zone 5 averages:

• When to plant tomatoes in zone 5
• When to plant peppers in zone 5
• When to plant basil in zone 5
• When to plant garlic in zone 5
• When to plant lettuce in zone 5
• When to plant bush beans in zone 5
• When to plant cucumbers in zone 5
• When to plant summer squash in zone 5
• When to plant peas in zone 5
• When to plant carrots in zone 5
• When to plant broccoli in zone 5
• When to plant cauliflower in zone 5
• When to plant cabbage in zone 5
• When to plant kale in zone 5
• When to plant brussels sprouts in zone 5
• When to plant collard greens in zone 5
• When to plant spinach in zone 5
• When to plant swiss chard in zone 5
• When to plant arugula in zone 5
• When to plant beets in zone 5
• When to plant radishes in zone 5
• When to plant turnips in zone 5
• When to plant parsnips in zone 5
• When to plant kohlrabi in zone 5
• When to plant onions in zone 5
• When to plant leeks in zone 5
• When to plant celery in zone 5
• When to plant asparagus in zone 5
• When to plant rhubarb in zone 5
• When to plant potatoes in zone 5
• When to plant sweet potatoes in zone 5
• When to plant eggplant in zone 5
• When to plant okra in zone 5
• When to plant sweet corn in zone 5
• When to plant pumpkins in zone 5
• When to plant winter squash in zone 5
• When to plant zucchini in zone 5
• When to plant cantaloupe in zone 5
• When to plant watermelon in zone 5
• When to plant pole beans in zone 5
• When to plant edamame in zone 5
• When to plant fava beans in zone 5
• When to plant cilantro in zone 5
• When to plant dill in zone 5
• When to plant parsley in zone 5
• When to plant oregano in zone 5
• When to plant thyme in zone 5
• When to plant sage in zone 5
• When to plant chives in zone 5

ZIP codes in Milwaukee

Drill down to the precise frost window and planting calendar for a specific ZIP in Milwaukee:

• 53202 — Milwaukee (Zone 5b)
• 53204 — Milwaukee (South Side) (Zone 5b)
• 53206 — Milwaukee (North) (Zone 5b)
• 53215 — Milwaukee (West Side) (Zone 5b)

Local microclimate notes

Zone tables give you the average — but Milwaukee gardens vary. South-facing walls and paved areas can run a full half-zone warmer than the published rating. Low-lying spots, frost pockets, and shaded north sides can run colder. If you've gardened here a few seasons, your own frost record — the last time you actually got frost damage — beats any national average.

Source and methodology

Hardiness zone from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023 revision). Frost-date and growing-season figures are modeled from Milwaukee's USDA hardiness zone and regional NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals — zone-level estimates, not a per-station record, so treat them as planning guidance and confirm against your own local frost history. Crop recommendations draw on US Cooperative Extension references, curated by the Growli editorial team. Last reviewed June 2026.

Other cities in Wisconsin

• Appleton, WI — USDA Zone 5a
• Eau Claire, WI — USDA Zone 4b
• Green Bay, WI — USDA Zone 5a
• Kenosha, WI — USDA Zone 5b
• Madison, WI — USDA Zone 5a
• New Berlin, WI — USDA Zone 5b
• Oshkosh, WI — USDA Zone 5a
• Racine, WI — USDA Zone 5b
• Sheboygan, WI — USDA Zone 5b
• Waukesha, WI — USDA Zone 5b
• All of Wisconsin by zone

Related guides

• USDA Zone 5 — full plant + frost guide
• Browse USDA hardiness zones by city
• Look up a ZIP code
• How to start a vegetable garden — beginner guide